Premiership clock

[rotten pie]

Whilst i hope most of these predictions are in the ball park, i think some of these posters are getting a little over excited about the new guys drafted recently, remembering most players take a couple of years in the system to hit their straps. I think alot depends on how we go in the next 2 years, our forward line is strong, backline average and mids below par. I think alot depends on Trav and Russling taking that next step while we sort out the midfield, the backline should be fine with a year or two more under their belt. The mids are the key, lets hape we have some aces in the pack!!!

 

[Mental Magpie]

IMO this is what we need to happen for us to be a genuine contender.

TRAVIS: Take the game by the horns and tear it apart. No one can match him on any level.

ROCCA: Just stay on the park for the whole season, including finals. The rest of the forward line will run amok with big Anth out there. Not to mention the fact that Anthony can singlehandedly turn a game.

THE WHOLE MIDFIELD BRIGADE: Clearances; just need to get our hands on it first and the damage will eventuate. The Midfield Brigade consists of the following players: Pendles, Thomas, O'Bree, Swan, Didak, Davis, Macarthy, Sidebottom, Beams, Barham, Irish, Dick, Lockyer, Johnson, Medhurst and Wellingham. (All to play in there at some stage during a game depending on rotations)

DEFENCE: Solid as a rock. Kids or no kids!

If the boys play unselfish footy, and work for eachother, we are well and truly in with a chance.

We have both the talent and the skill.

I am excited.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I tend to think we're at about 9:30 to be honest. I think our prime will be when Pendles and Thomas reach the height of their powers, so there's still a few years to go yet. That's not to say we couldn't be like Hawthorn and snag one ahead of expectations.

 

[Bonuspoints]

I reckon 09 and 10 will be transition years as we continue to replace the old with the new. We'll be competitive as always, but I don't think we have the depth and strength across the board to really mix it with the power teams. 2009 will hopefully see McCarthy and Wellingham start to establish themselves as permanent players in our 22. I expect that in 2010 we'll be without Rocca and O'bree, which is fine as we've got them covered with Dawes and Beams/Sidebottom. In 09 or 10 I would expect that Cam Wood would be ready take over as one of our two rucks.

I don't think we'll be a power team until 2011, which will hopefully be in the end of the Cats and the down slide of the Dawks. I would think the Blues would be one of the power teams and the Eagles on the rise to becoming one if not one already. Hopefully we'll do a Dawks and leap ahead of the plan and win one though.

Carn da Pies!

 

[Skade]

I see us getting one in the next 4 seasons, and 2 in the next 10.

It seems the club is completely focused on a premiership in the next 3 years, from most of the recent club publications it has mentioned in it that we are going for it all guns in the next three seasons. Hopefully we can pull it off.

I'd be very happy with one flag on 10 years.

 

[jerry springer]

still dont have the midfield,but the drafting looks a lot better.Still worried about our ruck stocks too

im thinking about 2011 we will be right in the mix

 

[Dave The Man]

still dont have the midfield,but the drafting looks a lot better.Still worried about our ruck stocks too

im thinking about 2011 we will be right in the mix

Rucks stocks are still our biggest Achilles Hill, We only have Wood and Fraser and Neither are top Line ruckman. Wood could become 1 in a season or 2.

But if we have 1 injury we have 1 ruckman and Bryan and if 2 go down we have no Ruckman and Just Bryan in the Ruck.

Would not play Keeffe at all next season in the AFL

 

[pendles]

Rucks stocks are still our biggest Achilles Hill, We only have Wood and Fraser and Neither are top Line ruckman. Wood could become 1 in a season or 2.

But if we have 1 injury we have 1 ruckman and Bryan and if 2 go down we have no Ruckman and Just Bryan in the Ruck.

Would not play Keeffe at all next season in the AFL

That post is worthy of its own thread Dave.

 

[Dave The Man]

That post is worthy of its own thread Dave.

Sure Is

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

I actually think we will win it this season. I'm excited by our current crop of players, just lacks gun players. Also, my two best mates go for Geelong and Hawthorn so I believe it is my turn.

And if we can't win this season, a flag before 2011 will be good enough.

 

[thatday]

I'd be very happy with one flag on 10 years.

As would I. Is it wrong of me to hope for more?

 

[twaters]

I'd say 09 is the last year on MM's game plan for any possible permiership under MM. Therafter we lose the human bookends (the Presti human blanket and the Pebs human ultra contesting machine), and any reason for glorying in owning the wings between the two.

Cats and Hawks found new ways of being offensive and owning the corridor. If the club is serious about going for a premiership within 3 years, time for either a game plan change or a coach change after 09. This one will only get us to lose by less and less often than others. That is good for members, feel-good, and finances. Not premierships. That era is done. The measure of 'success' needs to be what happens on the field. Heartened by Maxwell captaincy because he motivates the players on the field, more than inspires us in the seats and armchairs. The players (and the game plan) will win the premiership.

 

[SteeleAt11]

I'd say 09 is the last year on MM's game plan for any possible permiership under MM. Therafter we lose the human bookends (the Presti human blanket and the Pebs human ultra contesting machine), and any reason for glorying in owning the wings between the two.

Hawthorn's 2 key forwards were 21 years of age, Renouf was 20yr and the only key position down the spine over 24yrs (Croad) broke his foot in the GF.. it can be down without 31 year old book ends

 

[kevind]

Yeah but a midfield with key positions will always beat a midfield without.. ala Franklin/Roughead in the GF against Geelong

If Cloke Dawes Rusling Brown Anthony Reid are as good as we hope and the new midfield brigade becomes elite we will be a far more complete outfit than most

There's a few big 'ifs' there. I'm not a fan of either Reid and Rusling but the others hoepfully will be good players. How good is a complete unknown. Will Dawes be better than Rocca and therefore improve the side? It would be a big call to say yes at this stage.

It amazes me how supporters on this board are already declaring our NEW 2009 midfield after the recent drafts. Sidebottom and Beams are far from givens as far as making it at AFL level and if they do it's hard to see them having an impact before 2012. Pendleberry is already averaging almost mid 20's disposals per game, so its hard to see a hell of a lot of improvement there. Thomas is a true HFF who we are trying to convert into a midfielder. Does he have the engine for it?

Therefore with the loss of Burns, there is not a lot to suggest that the midfield in the coming years will definitely be better than it was in 2008. Yes, we have drafted a lot of mids since the end of the season, but just how good any of them will be is impossible to say at this stage.

In the comparison with Carlton, their midfield is proven and will only get better as Murphy and Gibbs play more games. Kreuzer will be another option for them as a KPP also. All their good young players have proved they have the ability(aside from Warnock perhaps). We will be very dependent on this year's draftees proving they can make it, so unfortunately all the 'ifs' and 'buts' rest with us at the moment.

The 2008 draft IMO will ultimately decide the future of the current Collingwood administration. If we have stuffed it up, it will be back to yet another rebuild. The 2009 season can't come quick enough. I really want to see the right signs from our draftees that at some time down the track, they will make a real difference.

 

[SteeleAt11]

The 2008 draft IMO will ultimately decide the future of the current Collingwood administration. If we have stuffed it up, it will be back to yet another rebuild. The 2009 season can't come quick enough. I really want to see the right signs from our draftees that at some time down the track, they will make a real difference.

It's hardly just about the 2008 recruits.. Pendles Clarke Thomas McCarthy Wellingham Cook Stanley Dick Barham will have the greater say in our future midfield prospects

 

[BEEG]

2011 is the year we we win the Flag

Still a bit of a wait but with all our younger players developing 25 to 26 is the good age

 

[SteeleAt11]

2011 is the year we we win the Flag

Still a bit of a wait but with all our younger players developing 25 to 26 is the good age

If you look at the average age of recent premiership teams it's closer to 24 years of age.. WC was 23

The window gets flung open in 2010

 

[Palmer Stoat]

I see us hitting our demographic sweet spot two or three years from now. Our young players will have added the games, kms, and kgs they need to be seasoned players, yet our mid-twenties players (Leon, Didak, Swan, Medhurst, Fraser) will still be at their peak.

 

[SteeleAt11]

I see us hitting our demographic sweet spot two or three years from now. Our young players will have added the games, kms, and kgs they need to be seasoned players, yet our mid-twenties players (Leon, Didak, Swan, Medhurst, Fraser) will still be at their peak.

Most player hit their peak between 23 and 27.. when Geelong won the flag they had 90% of the team between 23 and 27.. that's why they were unbeatable.. well except against us